It’s been less than two weeks since the sudden, tragic death of Grayson Murray, but one of those closest to the PGA Tour pro is trying to move on this week in an unexpected way.
Murray’s caddie, Jay Green, will be on the bag for a different golfer and on an entirely different tour this week after getting the job at the last minute thanks to a confluence of events. Jason Gore, who serves as the PGA Tour’s Chief Player Officer, got into the field at the American Family Insurance Championship as a sponsor’s exemption on Monday after Scott Verplank withdrew. Gore had just met Green earlier that day at Murray’s funeral service in Raleigh, and reached out.
“I texted him and I was like, ‘How much clothes did you bring?’ And he was like, ‘For what?'” Gore says in an Instagram video shared by the tour. “And I’m like, ‘Do you want to caddie in the Champions Tour event this week?’ And he goes, ‘For who?’ And I said, ‘For me, dummy.'”
“I was like, ‘Yes, that’s exactly what I needed,” Green said. “So, just looking for some normalcy, get back to work. And I think it’s exactly what Grayson would want.”
Murray withdrew late in his second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge on May 25. The following day, the PGA Tour announced Murray, who battled alcohol addiction and depression for years had died at 30. His parents later issued a statement revealing their son “took his own life.”
Murray—and Green—were scheduled to have been at the Memorial Tournament, one of the PGA Tour’s signature events, this week. But while nothing can heal the hole left by his boss’ death, Green is glad to be back working again at the American Family Insurance Championship.
“Inside the ropes is my happy place,” Green added. “So to be back doing what I love, caddieing, it feels amazing to be back out here and he’s been awesome.”